"Babalu" Signs on With New Management

Renato “Babalu” Sobral, who recently signed with Strikeforce after the UFC terminated his contract, has become the latest client of Ken Pavia’s MMAAgents.com sports agency.

MMAAgents.com is one of the largest sports agencies catering to MMA clients. Additionally, Pavia has earned a sort of reputation as a career-saver, helping fighters such as ousted “The Ultimate Fighter 5″ cast member Gabe Ruediger get their careers back on track.

Pavia told MMAjunkie.com of the signing late Sunday night.

Details of the contract aren’t yet available.

At UFC 74 event, Sobral refused to break a fight-ending chokehold on opponent David Heath. A week later, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously to withhold $25,000, the equivalent of Sobral’s UFC 74 “win bonus” (he earned an additional $25,000 to “show”). The NSAC voted to uphold the fine (but issued no suspension) last week.

After dominating much of their un-televised fight, Sobral secured Heath in a second-round anaconda choke. However, after Heath tapped, Sobral refused to break the hold, even as referee Steve Mazzagatti tugged on his arm. Three to four seconds passed before Sobral finally broke his grip. Sobral told the sold-out crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center that he wanted to “teach (Heath) a lesson” for disrespecting him during the previous day’s weigh-ins.

The UFC terminated his contract soon after, at which point Sobral hired Pavia.

“A mutual friend put us together,” Pavia said. “(The agency) isn’t a home for wayward souls. We can be picky about bringing in clients. We have to believe in a fighter and his ability to do his job. I believe in all my fighters. I’m not just saying that or putting those words out there without meaning itâ?¦ I believe in Renato that way.”

A deal with the California-based Strikeforce organization soon followed. Sobral made the announcement on Saturday’s broadcast of the Strikeforce show at the Playboy Mansion.

Sobral (28-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is an eight-year MMA veteran. The famed Brazilian grappler fought then-champ Chuck Liddell for the UFC’s light heavyweight title in August 2006 but suffered a first-round TKO.

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